Jakarta - Established talents and rising stars from Indonesia’s media celebrated the opening of an exhibition of their work at the national launch of the FAO and Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture 'Media Partnership Project: Human Faces of Avian Influenza'.

Well-known novelist/singer Dewi Lestari hosted the event at a packed Galeri Foto Jurnalistik Antara (Antara Gallery) in Jakarta. She was joined by the 13 successful media partners and an enthusiastic crowd of over 200 senior government staff, media professionals, international organisation representatives, donors, artists and members of the public, for an evening of presentations, music, photographic and audio-visual exhibition, and film screenings.

Opening the event, Dr Turni Rusli Sjamsuddin, Director of Veterinary Public Health in the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, stressed that "With this programme, we expect to be able to develop AI communication by focusing on those people who suffer the biggest losses and highest risks ..." as this would enable us to "... gain greater awareness of the impact of AI in communities; communication that allows interaction between disease control measures and livelihood/markets/cultural practices; and increases community participation in response to AI."

The 'Human Faces of Avian Influenza' was launched in July 2008 and awarded mini-fellowships to media practitioners based in Indonesia in the fields of print, radio, television, video, digital/online media, photography and multi-media. The aim was to mobilise media professionals as catalysts in the communication and advocacy process; include the views and opinions of the communities most affected by or at risk from avian influenza in the communication process; and develop a range of high-quality media materials and outputs to create awareness of and change risky behaviour in relation to AI.

"With the threat of such diseases as AI remaining and the advent of emerging or re-emerging diseases, such as rabies, it is vitally important that the government, international community, donors and media work closely together to ensure that the people of Indonesia are aware of and able to protect themselves from such risks. This project is one measure in the direction of achieving this aim". (Dr James McGrane, Team Leader FAO HPAI Control Programme Indonesia)

During the project, senior government representatives, media professionals from national broadcasters and press, and FAO staff met regularly to consider applications, select media partners, conduct training and provide advice and support and to review completed assignments. The successful media partners were selected from over 50 high-quality candidates.

The event was covered on Indonesia’s highest rated morning news programme the following morning, as well as by national newspapers. Photographs, films, radio broadcasts and multi-media/written pieces will be disseminated through national media. The exhibition of photographs and audio-visual materials has already been extended beyond the initial three days, due to very high popular demand.

The Media Partnership Project was funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), with additional resources and support provided by USAID and AusAID.

For further information on the project contact: Ester Hutabarat, National PDSR Communication Officer, email [email protected] or Enrico Aditjondro, Media Liaison and Information Officer, email [email protected]

For further information on the media Project in general, contact: Anthony Burnett, Communication Support Specialist, RAP-ECTAD; [email protected]

More information at:
http://mediapartnership.wordpress.com